mastershake916

Bought it at the UCD bike auction for $15.
At first it had a crooked basket, upside-down handlebars and some awful tape.
Here's a picture of it's current condition, stripped of a lot of parts for the purpose of cleaning, I don't think the handlebar is original, because after peeling back the tape I found an old store tag.

It also came with a rear fender (might be original).
I also believe that it's been painted.
Sorry for the bad picture, ask me about it and I'll clarify.
Thanks!

v1k1ng1001

I think it is '78 Schwinn Scrapmetal or Huffy Rustbomber

mastershake916

Shove it!

mechBgon

My guess is it's a Free Spirit (Sears brand) or maybe a JC Penneys store brand from the '70s or so.
And yeah, I don't think that handlebar was stock, and the shifters probably belong on the
handlebar stem rather than the downtube.

Based on what I can see of it, you'd have a lot of work to do before it was in good riding shape.
That chain looks pretty badly rusted, there's missing brake pads in back and no front brake at all,
no seatpost clamp, no seat, no rear wheel, no grips. If I can give some advice... look around for
an old Schwinn Varsity or Schwinn Suburban, or something along those lines, instead of getting a
lot of money tied up in this one.

chrisvu05

I think Viking is mistaken....it's probably a '74 Raleigh POS or a '77 Motobecane Missing Back Wheel with Rusted Chain....

operator

I'm not sure that bike is worth fixing back up. The front wheel and handlebar seem to be the only decent parts on that.

mlts22 

It does look (from the way the top and down tube are arranged) like a Sears Free Spirit bike to me, circa late 70s, early 80s. The handlebars are definitely not stock, as most of the Free Spirits from that time used regular road bars, with oddball levers attached to the normal brakes so you had two hand positions to reach for stopping. The friction shifters also are from that era as well.

The fork is definitely a Free Spirit fork, or a close one from that time frame.

What condition is the drivetrain in? The chain especially looks pretty rusty.

If you can fix it up, go for it. However, I fear you may end up throwing far more money replacing/repairing components than the bike is worth. The bike, if I recall correctly runs about $150 when new, not sure though.

I'd really consider another bike to fix up, if it were up to me. A relative "donated" to me a couple Free Spirits for "road bikes", but their condition is so bad, I wouldn't want to risk riding them, and I've not had the time to check how repairable I can make them, and I've not inspected them closely (they are in storage) for rust and possible frame damage. However, if you want to fix that frame up, more power to you.

v1k1ng1001

The POS...

Bikepacker67

C'mon guys! Be nice to the noob!

SamHouston

Keep the handlebars, there's your $15.00 You could keep the frame/fork/headset & kickstand too,, maybe a wheel. Ditch the rest & spend $50.00 on uber-low end parts & you'll have a fun bike to roll around the neighbourhood on.

Dr.Deltron

Kinda tough when somebody posts a HUGE picture of "an old bike" that they paid $15 for!

I just found a Schwinn World at the DUMP for $8.50 + tax = $9.16! The rear wheel was an up grade and has a perfect Wolber rim laced to an XT hub. The rest of the bike was a 7 out of 10.
Other garage sale bike finds; '86 Cannondale ST 400 in perfect shape=$20, A pre Raleigh Carlton for $35, A Panasonic 7500 mtn bike that needed a front deraileur $5. I could go on....

So seriously, in a town like Davis, there MUST be better bikes to spend $15 on.

DataJunkie

It's name is bob and it is an aries.
Bob likes moonlit walks in the parks and picking fresh daisies. Yes, your bike is gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Bob does not have a DL due to 10 DWIs.

mastershake916

Thanks for the ID, but I have almost everything you mentioned, it was on the bike when I got it but I've taken it off to clean the whole thing. And yes, the shifters were where you mentioned.

mastershake916

Bunch of A-Holes on here, s.h.i.t.

DataJunkie

<-- proud ahole
Ask my wife's family.
Now try and ask me for money.

v1k1ng1001

That bike is seriously f'd up and not worth anything close to $15, let alone the time and effort to fix it up.

slowandsteady

Unless you can find the dead sea scrolls stuffed into the bottom bracket, you wasted your money.

BlazingPedals

The ashtabula bottom bracket and crank and the crimped-on rear dropouts mark it as a dept store bike. Those ape-hanger bars are probably after-market, and possibly the most valuable part of the bike. It looks like it's had a hard life, and has seen a spray paint can at least once judging by the overspray on the kickstand. I wouldn't mind finding one like it, but only because I'm looking for a mixte to cut up. Fixing it up would cost well over what it's worth.

shakeNbake

Don't worry, that burn is part of the learning process. I also had my share of buying worthless crap. I payed $20 for a rusted out Schwinn Varsity.

Truth is that bike is probably worth exactly $15. It breaks down: $10 for the bar, $5 for the rest.

So I would say you didn't do too bad. Not good, but not bad.

Next is to decide what to do. I reckon it would take at least $20-50 to get it to a RIDEABLE condition.

I say you cut your loss and dump the bike, but keep the bars.

Dr.Deltron

I'm curious. Why do you say that, Mastershake916 Clueless Cycling Newbie?
Maybe you should post your find in the Classic & Vintage section.

v1k1ng1001

mastershake916

The thing is, that's only half of the bike, I had already taken off the back tire, seat, back fender and brake before I took the picture.
I'll take another picture at the end of the week when it's completed.

v1k1ng1001

What are you going to do with all that rust???

mastershake916

Use some solvent and replace it when I find a cheap chain?
That answer good enough for ya?

mastershake916

Because only a couple of the responders had anything good to say, everyone is talking about what a crappy bike it is, etc.
i don't care if it's a crappy bike, it was only $15 and it's a learning experience.